LONDON (AP) A British chestnut-whacking champion was cleared Monday of cheating after an investigation into alleged malfeasance at the World Conker Championships .

Organizers of the nutty annual event said that Dave Jakins, a veteran competitor nicknamed King Conker, did not use a steel chestnut to conquer his rival.

The traditional game, played by generations of British schoolchildren, involves players using conkers the glossy brown seeds of the horse chestnut tree threaded onto a string to try and smash their opponents chestnut.